The New Lotus Exige S - 2010 Model Year

The 79th International Geneva Motor Show sees the
introduction of the exciting new 2010 Model Year
Lotus Exige S with a newly designed front end, a new
rear wing and impressive emissions of just 199 g/km
CO2.

The Lotus Exige is a renowned high performance coupe
that has a well earned reputation of choice for
drivers who demand uncompromised performance, both
on the road and on the track.

Lotus has always
pursued efficiency and fuel economy and for the 2010
Model Year Lotus Exige S, Lotus has reduced the
emissions to only 199 g/km CO2 and increased the
fuel economy to an impressive 8.5 litres/100 km on
the Official European Combined Cycle and a frugal
6.5 litres/100 km on the Official European Extra
Urban Cycle.

The 2010 Model Year also sees the
introduction of a few key changes to the Exige to
enhance the look and improve aerodynamic
performance.

A restyled front end and new larger,
rear wing that not only reduces drag, but also gives
a more muscular stance enhancing the lightweight
shrink-wrapped look of the whole car.

The
composite rear wing is based on the design from the
Exige GT3 road car concept shown at the Geneva
Motorshow in 2007. Compared to the 2009 Model Year
Exige tailgate mounted wing it is 181 mm wider and
mounted 46 mm higher and 61 mm further back. It is
attached to the rear bodyshell clam via rear end
plates which not only increases the stiffness of the
whole structure but also ensures that as much of the
airflow as possible passes over the rear wing. This
careful airflow management increases stability,
reduces drag and, most importantly, maintains the
impressive downforce figures of 42 kg at 160 km/h.

The restyled front end includes a larger, more
angular air intake mouth to help funnel more air
through the radiator, to improve the efficiency of
the engine system. Ahead of the front wheels on
either side of the main aperture, two larger air
intakes increase the airflow to the twin oil coolers.
Horizontal vanes bisect these oil cooler air-intakes
to stabilise the airflow to further increase the
cooling efficiency.

Since the Exige S2 was
launched in 2004, the power has increased from 190
hp through 220 hp to 240 hp in standard road form –
more for the track centric Exige Cup 260 - and the
new larger air intakes improve engine cooling for
these current higher powered Exige variants.

Mounted below the three new air intakes is a new
aerodynamic splitter for the 2010 Model Year Exige.
Made from a lightweight composite, the splitter is
now extended to wrap around the whole of the front
end and chiseled side lips are raised to deflect air
around the tyres to reduce drag.

Mike Kimberley,
Chief Executive of Group Lotus plc said, “Over the
years, the Lotus Exige has developed a hardcore fan
base around the world and its popularity has placed
it as one of the legendary sportscars of the 21st
century. So far, over 5000 Exiges have been
hand-built at our high-tech manufacturing facility
making it a significant contributor to our global
production. The lightweight Exige has one of the
highest specific power outputs of any globally
emissions certified car and 133 hp per litre is a
perfect demonstration of Colin Chapman’s philosophy
of performance through light weight and of Lotus’
relentless pursuit of efficiency. The same
technology that makes a lightweight car a high
performer also makes it efficient – how many cars
have performance figures of 0 – 100 km/h in 4.77
secs but produce only 199 g/km CO2?”

Like all
Lotus cars, the functional components of the car are
also beautifully designed as Russell Carr, Chief of
Lotus Design, explains, “For 2010 we have taken the
already visually extreme Exige and given it even
more visual drama. The changes we have integrated
into the front and rear of the Exige signal an even
clearer and purposeful intent. The purposeful rear
wing is race inspired, the new angular air intakes
and full width splitter gives a more hard-edged and
aggressive look. Overall, the Exige appears more
planted and gives the illusion that both the front
and rear of the car are wider than they really are
without losing its agile and lithe character.”

Roger Becker, Director of Vehicle Engineering said,
“The changes we have made to the Exige for 2010
Model Year are quite subtle when taken individually,
but taken as a complete package they make
significant improvements to aerodynamics and the
overall look of the car. The Exige is a classic
fit-for-purpose performance machine, the design
tweaks we have made have reduced the drag, cleaned
up the airflow around the front and rear of the car,
whilst retaining the impressive balanced downforce
figures, to give an exciting high performance
drive.”

The specification of the highly successful
2009 Model Year Exige Cup 260, unveiled at the Paris
Motorshow in 2008 remains unchanged. The 2010 Exige
in more detail:

Driver and passenger airbags are
standard on all models while an on-board Tyre
Pressure Monitoring System is standard in the USA.

The instrument pack in the Exige contains much more
than just a pair of stylishly back-lit dials. It
also features a high-definition LCD message panel
that can display a scrolling text message with
vehicle systems information.

The instrument pack
always displays the fuel gauge, engine temperature
and odometer, however you can select to display the
time, trip distance or a digital read-out of your
speed in the opposite calibration to that of your
speedometer dial – if your dial is in mph, the
readout is in km/h.

Warning symbols are ‘secret
until lit’, keeping the instrumentation free from
visual clutter and distraction until necessary.
Gearchange ‘shift’ lights similarly remain hidden
until required. There are three shift up warning
lights, cumulatively lighting when the driver is
getting closer to the rev limiter and when all three
are illuminated, they flash to indicate that you
should have changed up a gear by now!

A “key”
issue
The Exige has a “Thatcham approved” alarm/immobiliser
system and the ignition key incorporates the
controls for the alarm/immobiliser and central
locking functions. This key features three buttons,
the one which locks the doors and sets the alarm/immobiliser
is stylishly crowned with the famous Lotus roundel.
The second button unlocks the doors and de-actives
the alarm/immobiliser, and the final button is a
panic alarm button.

With the Exige performance pack,
the power is raised to 240 PS / 179 kW (minimum) at
8000 rpm courtesy of a Magnuson/Eaton M62
supercharger, new faster flowing injectors and
higher torque clutch system and an upsized roof
scoop to feed more air to the supercharger
intercooler system.

This hike in power, together
with an increase in torque to 170 lbft / 230 Nm /
23.5 kgm at 5,500 rpm from the standard 158.6 lbft /
215 Nm / 22 kgm at 5500 rpm, helps whisk the
Performance Pack Exige S from zero to 60mph in 4.5
secs and 0-100km/h in 4.77 secs, and on to 100mph in
11.97 secs. Top speed rises to 145 mph. The power
and torque of the 240 PS engine is increased across
the rev range giving even more flexibility. Despite
these high levels of performance the fuel economy is
impressive with a new combined figure of 8.5 litres
/ 100 km and 199 g/km CO2 – reduced from 9.1 litres
/ 100 km (combined) and 216 g/km CO2 for the 2009
Model Year Exige. Continuous engineering
improvements over the last year including careful
whole vehicle optimisation has enabled this
sportscar to be even better for fuel economy and
emissions.

Of course the increased power and
straight-line performance are only a couple of
elements of the Performance Pack option. The clutch
is uprated and a clutch damper fitted; there are
thicker, 308mm diameter cross-drilled and vented
discs at the front clamped by AP Racing four-piston
callipers; the standard brake pads are replaced by
uprated pads.

Keen to pass on lessons learned on
the track with the Exige GT3 racing programme, Lotus
Sport has contributed another important track
specific technology to the Performance Pack – launch
control combined with variable traction control.

From the driver’s seat the track orientated launch
control allows you to determine the engine revs you
wish to use during a standing start on the track.
Having programmed that limit, it will not be
exceeded when you then hold down the throttle
and sidestep the clutch at departure from the line.
The clutch damper cushions the severity of the
clutch / transmission engagement to minimise the
stresses to the drivetrain (noting that continuous
abusive standing start applications will destroy the
drivetrain components). The launch control also
keeps wheelspin at bay until 6 mph, after which the
traction control assumes its duties.

As with
launch control, you can dial in the amount of
traction control you require from the driver’s seats,
altering it on the move to suit driving style and
the characteristics of particular corners. The
amount of traction control can be varied in over 30
increments from an optimum 7 percent tyre slip to
completely off. The message display in the new
instrument pack displays what degree of traction
control you have currently dialled in.

The beauty
of all the packs is that they can be combined so a
customer can have the additional interior and
exterior equipment from the Touring pack with the
sport focussed equipment from the Sport pack.
Air conditioning, Lotus traction control and limited
slip differential are available
as stand-alone options.

Customers wanting to add
further finishing touches to their Exige – such as
specifying adjustable dampers and forged wheels can
do so by ordering from an extensive range of
accessories.

Colours
The Premium Colour Range has been designed to
further enhance the choice for customers to
individualise their cars. Most of the paints in this
range require a more sophisticated application
process and are from our paint supplier’s premium
range. The paint colours in this range have been
individually priced, and it is Lotus’ intention to
extend and change this range at periodic intervals.